The use of lobe pumps in food industry

July 16, 2018

With a turnover of more than 98,300 million euros last year, Spanish food industry is one of the main engines of economic growth in the country, according to data from the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverages (FIAB). Lobe pumps are one of the most common solutions within this strategic sector, with great technical possibilities.

Lobe pumps are included in the category of rotary volumetric pumps. Its operation is based on the action of two lobes that rotate in opposite directions, which make the fluid flow between the lobes and the body. Among its main advantages, these pumps have a high reliability and low maintenance cost. The use of lobe pumps allows safeguarding the product during its processing stage, avoiding possible contamination, in addition to maintaining the ideal temperature and viscosity of the fluid.

However, the delicacy of products intended for the food industry (with special care to characteristics related to food safety and hygiene) requires an adequate knowledge of lot of factors related to the characteristics of the product in order to take full advantage of their potential. Your reliable lobe pumps manufacturer can advise you on the most suitable pump model for each specific product.

How to choose the most appropriate lobe pumps for each case?

The first step is a deep knowledge of our product. In the case of the food industry, there is a wide bibliography and documentation about the characteristics, composition and behaviour of food, which can help us to decide which lobe pumps are best suited to our specific case. Information related to the food safety of their food has a particular relevance. This information will address the necessary requirements for these products to be suitable for human consumption. Food industry has strict standards in order to offer high levels of quality in every product.

Factors related to the use of lobular pumps

The use of lobe pumps is commonly associated with liquid products, but they can also be used to work with more viscous products, like powders, pastes or solids. In these cases, we must resort to a lobe pumps manufacturer that offers us a specifically designed solution for each product. The pump must have been developed to work with that particular fluid and work according to the conditions and requirements established by the manufacturer for optimum performance.

Food industry covers a wide range of products, with very different characteristics, from solids to sauces. The risks of the use of lobe pumps are different according to the type of food. For example, most solid products (such as fruit cocktails) require a special delicacy that preserves the product in good conditions, so we must choose the appropriate lobe pumps for each case. If we work with sauces or dairy products, excessive agitation can cut the sauce, spoiling the final product.

Viscosity is one of the fundamental factors to be taken into account for the proper operation of lobe pumps. Viscosity measures resistance to flow and is related to elements such as the size of the particles with which these pumps works. We must also consider its chemical composition and its sensitivity to shearing, that is, the risk that the pump impeller damages the flow.